The Housing Development Board (HDB) has launched its sample household survey (SHS) to gather residents’ feedback on their public housing experience and understand their changing needs and expectations.

The SHS, introduced in 1968, is conducted every five years.

Happening from October 2023 to April 2024, the SHS will include new focus areas, such as the housing needs and aspirations of single occupiers in HDB flats and the impact of residents’ lifestyles on their well-being.

8,600 HDB households and single occupiers

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said in an Oct. 23, 2023 Facebook post that designing, building and rejuvenating HDB homes and estates are a constant work in progress, especially as Singapore's economy develops, society evolves, and the housing aspirations of the population change.

"This is why HDB regularly gathers feedback from residents, such as through the SHS conducted every five years."

In a same-day press release, HDB said it hopes to understand HDB residents' public housing experience and their changing needs and expectations through the SHS 2023/2024.

Lee and HDB said that a total of 8,600 households and single occupiers in HDB towns and estates across the island will be invited to participate in the SHS 2023/2024.

HDB hopes to gather feedback from a wide range of HDB residents, including families and singles who are HDB homeowners, as well as single HDB occupiers aged 21 to 54, elderly and rental households.

New focus areas

The SHS 2023/2024 will include its usual topics, such as residents' satisfaction with their physical living environment but also focus on new areas, such as the needs of single occupiers and residents' social well-being.

HDB stated that the physical living environment is a fundamental component of HDB living that influences housing aspirations and determines how residents move within their town and beyond for leisure, work, and school.

Residents will be asked about their satisfaction with the various facilities available within their HDB estates, in addition to their housing preferences and aspirations.

The survey also seeks to understand single occupiers' views towards marriage and their housing needs and aspirations, sense of belonging, and outlook on life.

Lastly, HDB will study the social well-being of residents on three levels – personal, family and the community – both physically and mentally.

Residents will be examined on how physical and social infrastructure could support communities in bouncing back from shocks and stresses.

Results to be ready in 2025

The last SHS was conducted in 2018, and its results were released in 2021.

Notification letters will be sent to HDB residents in batches to invite them to participate in the survey, which can be conducted either face-to-face or online.

HDB has commissioned a vendor, Media Research Consultants (MRC) Pte Ltd, to conduct the surveys. MRC staff will carry their company’s identity pass and HDB’s Authorisation Letter when they make their rounds.

HDB encouraged residents invited to participate in the survey to share their views actively and play a part in shaping their homes and communities.

Lee wrote in his Facebook post: "Your responses will help us better understand your housing needs and how our estates can better support your well-being."

"Please share your views with my HDB colleagues so that we can make meaningful improvements to our public housing policies and design to serve you better."

HDB said it estimated that the SHS 2023/24 results will be ready in 2025.

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Top image from Desmond Lee/Facebook